EXETER, N.H. (AP) — A former Exeter Hospital nurse and roommate of a technician accused of stealing drugs and infecting patients with hepatitis C has sued the hospital, saying she was wrongfully terminated.

Kerry Descoteau lived with David Kwiatkowski (kwiht-KOW'-skee) and worked with him at the cardiac catheterization laboratory.<

In her lawsuit, filed last month in Rockingham Superior Court, Descoteau said she was questioned about her connection to Kwiatkowski and about a drug used during procedures. She was placed on administrative leave.

The suit says the state nursing board investigated and dismissed the complaint, but then the hospital fired her a week later, saying she "may have contributed" to the hepatitis C outbreak.

The Portsmouth Herald reports (http://bit.ly/118ixwG) a lawyer for Exeter Hospital denies that it wrongfully terminated Descoteau.